Avelo Airlines protest planned in Eugene May 31

from Indivisible Eugene-Springfield

Local political and social action organizations will hold a rally and protest May 31, 11 a.m., at the Eugene Federal Building, 211 E. 7th Ave., to protest Avelo Airlines’ operation of flights in and out of Eugene Airport while flying deportation flights for the Trump administration.

The event is one of dozens organized in cities and towns across the country that day by independent, grassroots organizations in response to Avelo’s new $150 million partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Avelo is the only commercial airline currently contracted with ICE.

Avelo operates regular flights between Eugene and Burbank, California. Organizers hope to draw attention to the airline’s business practices that they believe do not align with those of the Eugene community or the airport’s stated values.

“Eugene Airport’s belonging and mission statement speaks about the core value of integrity: ‘We align our conduct with what we know to be excellent, always seeking to reflect ethical standards and to do the right thing regardless of the circumstances,’” said Anne Bridgman, an organizer with Indivisible Eugene-Springfield, quoting from the airport’s statement. “Well, these are the circumstances, and it is time to do the right thing. We stand with our immigrant neighbors and ask all travelers to boycott a firm that profits from immigrant detention, family separation, and the rejection of due process. Avelo should end its alliance with ICE or stop flying in and out of Eugene.”

The event is organized by Avelo Out of EUG, a coalition of grassroots organizations that includes Indivisible Eugene/Springfield, Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) – Springfield/Eugene, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), and the Refugee Sanctuary Committee at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene (UUCE), and endorsed by United for Immigrant Justice, the Oregon Community Asylum Network, and Eugene PeaceWorks.

Since Avelo’s ICE contract was exposed by the Yale Daily News on April 8, organizers associated with Avelo Out of EUG have been working to build a campaign of pressure against the city to cut ties with the airline unless they cut ties with ICE.

Speaking to the strategic motivation of the campaign, Rob Fisette, an organizer with the PSL, added, “Avelo has chosen to engage in human trafficking for millions of dollars in profit, but Avelo also has regular, public-facing business with ordinary travelers. They require the use of state and local public resources like Eugene Airport to function. So they are open to boycott and public pressure in ways that other companies in the detention and deportation machine are not. This is a concrete way for people and officials in places like Oregon who value strong sanctuary protections can fight back against these Trump administration policies that we all abhor.”

Now that the movement is nationwide and growing, Avelo Out of EUG sees this campaign as a prime opportunity to educate the community about the role private companies and city governments play in carrying out the Trump administration’s policies—and hopefully, get them to change. They say the protest on May 31 is just the beginning.

“The May 31 day of action will kick off a summer of organized action against Avelo until they end their ICE contract or until airport executives and local officials do the right thing,” added Laura Adams, an organizer with Showing Up for Racial Justice – Springfield/Eugene. “We all need to show up as allies to stand with immigrants and undocumented people in opposing these clear violations of their human rights. We will extend the boycott, pressure the city council to end their support, and go to the Airport Advisory Board as well.”

The event will start at 11 a.m. with a short rally at the Eugene Federal Building, and organizers expect that many attendees will remain until approximately 1 p.m., raising awareness of the campaign to passersby. Participants are invited to sign up on Mobilize.us (at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/792600/) and to bring signs that promote the event’s message.